Magpie Tech Tips

January 11, 2018

New Year’s Resolution: Curb Your Facebook Habit?

Social Media has opened a new world of communication to all, but it has a dark side. According to a former Facebook executive, “you are being programmed.” Now that 2018 is here, consider curbing your Facebook habit. Your brain needs the freedom to think!

Facebook addiction is real. If you’re still looking for a New Year’s Resolution, make this one: “I will curb my Facebook time.”

Why You Should: Facebook Reprograms your Behavior

He admitted what many have suspected for years. Facebook is designed to consume as much of your time and attention as possible. Each Like or Share gives you a bit of feel-good validation. Your brain loves this, and will try to get more. It's very easy to get hooked.

A former Facebook executive, Chamath Palihapitiya, goes further in an expletive-laden speech at Stanford University and accuses the social network of “ripping apart” the fabric of society. He won’t use social media anymore and he doesn’t allow his children to either. “You don’t realize it, but you are being programmed.”

Of additional concern, is the proliferation of fake news on Facebook that only serves to further divide an already divided nation.

Overall, social media benefits everyone tremendously, when it’s used in moderation. Unfortunately, Facebook doesn't want moderation, and will try extremely hard to make you addicted to it. It’s even trying to lure children to join now. Fight back this year. More real living and less virtual living!

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